Garments with self contained pockets



April 16, 1963 L. M. CUTLER GARMENTS WITH ,SELF CONTAINED POCKETS 2 filleets sheet 1 Filed Oct. 24, 1960 INVEN TOR. LESTER M. CUTLER BY 2 g April 16, 1963 M. CUTLER GARMENTS WITH SELF CONTAINED POCKETS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed 001'.- 24, 1960 INVENTOR. LESTER M. CUTLER ATYWH/VEY United States Patent 3,085,254 GARMENTS WITH SELF CONTAINED POCKETS Lester M. Cutler, 261 Parkside Drive, Roslyn Heights, N.Y. Filed Oct. 24, 1960, Ser. No. 64,329 3 Claims. (Cl. 2-243) This invention relates generally to outer garments and more particularly to a garment adapted to be contained or packed away in its own pocket for storage and/or transportation.

Certain garments that are wrinkleproof and wherein the appearance thereof is not important are often stuffed in a fabric bag for transportation to the beach or for use in an emergency such as a storm. Raincoats, beach robes, emergency dresses and the like are garments of this type.

'It is an important object of the present invention to provide an outer garment with a pocket that is adapted to contain the entire garment, except the pocket, in folded condition, thereby doing away With the necessity of a separate bag or other container.

A specific object is to provide a garment with a pocket adapted to be converted into a carrying bag containing 7 the garment.

Another object is to provide such a garment wherein the pocket is provided with a closure member and with a handle for transporting the contained garment.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, andto the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a raincoat with a pocket made in accordance with the present invention, the sleeve adjacent the pocket being bent upwardly to permit the pocket to be seen.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective and sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of FIG. l.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary side elevational view showing the first step in the formation of the pocket-bag, the pocket flap being raised to show the structure.

FIG. 4 is a similar perspective view showing the next step in the formation of the pocket-bag, the pocket flap being raised.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective view of the formed pocket-bag, with the garment stuffed therein, the top of the pocket-bag being partly open to show the arrangement of the garment inside the pocket bag, a part of the garment projecting outside the pocket-bag.

PEG. 6 is a front elevational view of the completely formed pocket-bag completely closed and in upside-down condition ready for transportation, the garment being stuffed inside. 7

FIG. 7 is a front elevational view of a robe having a pocket embodying a modified form of the invention.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken on the line 8-8 of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a front elevational view of the pocket of FIG. 7, parts of the pocket being broken away to show the internal structure.

FIG. 10 is a front elevational view of the completely formed pocket-bag with garment inside, the pocket-bag being ready for transportation.

Referring in detail to the drawings, in FIG. 1 there is i shown an outer garment in the form of ,a three-quarter size raincoat 1t} composed o-f an upper section 12 and a lower section 14, the bottom end of the upper section overlapping the top end of the lower section and being joined thereto by lines of stitching 16. v The raincoat is 3,985,254 Patented Apr. 16, 1963 formed of fabric material and is finished with an inner fabric lining 17. The raincoat is openable at the front and is closed thereat by buttons -18 and buttonholes 20 on front edge strips 22 and 24, respectively. The front opens into an open neck formed with a collar 26. Sleeves 28 of ordinary construction are formed on the upper section 12 at the top sides thereof.

- On one side of the bottom section 14, the right-hand side as viewed in FIG. '1, at the top center thereof, a flap 30 is secured between the overlapping ends of the upper and lower sections and by the stitching 16. A button 32 is secured to the center of flap 30. The flap 30 indicates the flap cover of a false pocket in the raincoat at said side.

On the other or left-hand side of the bottom section 14, a pocket 34 made in accordance with the present invention is formed. The garment material has a slit to provide a pocket opening for the pocket 34. Structurally this pocket 34 is rectangular in shape and is composed of rectangular panels of similar flexible fabric in overlapping spaced condition, including -a rear panel 38, a front panel 40 and a sectioned intermediate panel '42. At their bottom ends, the panels are joined together by a line of stitching 44.

The intermediate panel 42 is composed of atop section 46 and a bottom section 48 spaced from each other at their intermediate top and bottom ends. The top section 46 is composed of a double ply of material, and the bottom section of a single ply of material. The top section 46 is joined to the top end of the rear panel 38- by a line of stitching 50. The panels 38, 40 and 42 hang loose and are unattached tothe material of the bottom section 14 and unattached to the material of the lining :17 as best seen in FIG. 2.-

The top and bottom sections 46 and 48 of the intermediate panel 42 are connected to each other by a sliding fastener structure. This sliding fastener structure comprises a tap 52 inserted between the bottom end edges ofthe double plies of material forming the bottom end of the top section 46 and secured therein by a line of stitching 54. A'tape 56 has one long edge secured to the top overturned edge of the bottom section 48 by a line of stitching 58. Interlocking teeth 60 and 62 are secured to the free edges of the tapes '52 and 56, respectively. A slider member 64 spreads and locks the teeth in the usual manner. However, the slider is provided With a pair of pull tabs 66 and 68 on opposite sides thereof for actuating the slider. The overturned top ends of the front panel 40 and the material of the lower front outer section 14 are joined by a line of stitching '70.

An inverted U-shaped strap member 72 of material similar to the panels has its ends secured between the bottom of the intermediate panel 48 and the rear panel 38, by the stitching 44, the remainder of the strap member being unattached to serve as a handle.

A flap 74 formed of two plies of material similar to the panels has one long edge inserted between the overlapped adjacent ends of the top section 12 and the bottom section 14 and is secured therebetween by the stitching 16. The flap overlaps the top opening of the pocket 34 and is provided with a button 76 at its center for decorative purposes.

By reason of this pocket construction a space or pocket 84 is formed between the front panel 40 and the intermediate panel 42 open at the top and adapted to be closed by the flap 74. Another space or pocket 82 is provided between the intermediate panel 42 and the rear panel 38,

access to which is provided by the sliding fastener structure. The entire pocket structure hangs loosely between the material of the front lower section 14 of the rainpocket structure may be inverted and pulled outwardly of the top opening between the front panel 40 and the intermediate panel 48, as seen in FIG. 2.

In use, if it is desired to convert the pocket structure 34 into a carrying bag 84 as shown in FIGS. and 6, the flap 74 is first opened or raised giving access to the interior of the pocket 80. The hand of the user is then inserted into pocket 80 and the bottom of the pocket 80 grasped and the bottom pulled outwardly through the opening in the top of the pocket thereby carrying the entire pocket structure outwardly of the bottom section 14 with the intermediate panel 48 outermost as viewed in FIG. 3. When the pocket is in this position, the zipper structure is exposed with pull tab 66 available for opening the teeth 6% and 62. The next step is to open the teeth by pulling the slider 64 from left to right as viewed in FIG. 2. An entrance is thus provided to the innermost space or pocket 82, which entrance is at the front as viewed in FIG. 3. The users hand is next inserted through said entrance into the pocket 82 and the handle 72 is grasped and the bottom of the pocket 82 is pulled outwardly thereby through the entrance provided by the opening of the teeth 60' and 62 to the position shown in FIG. 4 whereby the handle 72 is exposed and the slider 74 is at the right-hand side and the opening to pocket 82 is at the rear as viewed in FIG. 4, facing the garment or raincoat. With the opening to the pocket in this position, it is merely necessary to gather up or fold the material of the raincoat including the front panel 40 and as it is being gathered or folded it is stuffed or packed through the opening of the pocket 82 to the bottom thereof until the last bit of raincoat material is stuffed or packed thereinto as seen in FIG. 5. The position of the opening as seen in FIG. 4 and the flexibility of the material of the raincoat permit this operation. When the parts are in this position, the parts assume the shape and structure of a bag with the intermediate panel sections 46 and 48 at the front and the rear panel 38 at the rear as viewed in FIGS. 5 and 6.

The zipper structure of the intermediate panel serves as a closure and with the other pull tab 68 outermost and by pulling the slider 74 to the right as viewed in FIG. 5 by means of the other pull tab 68, the teeth will be closed thereby sealing the pocket 82 leaving the handle 72 on the outside. The pocket is thus converted into a carrying bag 84 shown in FIGS. 5 land 6 with the intermediate panel and the rear panel 38 on the outside, and by merely turning the bag upside down as shown in FIG. 6, the handle 72 is in position for carrying the bag, with the entire raincoat, except panel sections 46 and 48 and panel 38, on the inside.

The converted carrying bag 84 may be readily opened by sliding the slider 64 from right to left as viewed in FIG. 6 by means of the pull tab 68. When an opening is thus provided, the material of the body of the garment may be readily grasped by the hand of the user and pulled outwardly through the opening. When all of the material :is removed from the bag, the pocket structure may be :readily reversed by pulling the panels through the open- .ing to normal condition.

It will be understood that in place of button and buttonhole assemblies, snap fasteners or zipper closures may be used to close the front of the raincoat.

Referring now to the modification of the invention shown in FIGS. 7 to 10, inclusive, this form is shown for example embodied in a dress 10' of fabric material. The pocket is shown for example in the form of a patch pocket 34. This pocket 34' comprises an outer rectangularshaped panel 40' of material similar to the material of the dress, and a rectangular inner sectioned panel 42' of the same material. At their bottom ends, the panels are secured to the material of the front of the dress 10' by lines of stitching 90. The top edge of' the front'panel 40' is 4 turned over and the turned over portions stitched together by a line of stitching 91. The top end is unattached.

The inner panel 42' is composed of a top section 46 and a bottom section 48 spaced from each other at their adjacent top and bottom ends. The top section 46 is composed of a double ply of material, and the bottom section of a single ply of material. The top section 46' is secured to the material of the dress by a line of stitching 92. The top and bottom sections 46" and 4-8 of the inner panel 42' are connected to each other by a zipper structure similar to the zipper structure between the top and bottom sections 46 and 48, respectively, of the intermediate panel 42. This zipper structure includes the top and bottom tapes 52 and .56, interlocking teeth 60 and 62 on the tapes, a slider 64 and a pair of pull tabs 66' and 68 on opposite sides of the slider for actuating the slider.

An inverted U-shaped strap member 72' of material similar to the panels has its ends secured between the top edge of the top section 46' of the inner panel 42 and the material of the dress 10' by the stitching 92, the remainder of the strap member being unattached and positioned between the inner panel 42' and the material of the dress and serving as a handle.

By reason of this pocket construction, a space or pocket 8d is formed between the front panel 40' and the inner panel 42 open at the top. Another space or pocket 82 is provided between the inner panel 42' and the material of the dress 10, access to which is provided by the zipper structure.

In use, if it is desired to convert the pocket structure 34 into a carrying bag 84 as shown in FIG. 10, the hand of the user is inserted into pocket and the pull tab 66' pulled from the left to the right as viewed in FIG. 9. An entrance is thus provided to the pocket 82 which entrance is at the front as viewed in FIG. 8.

The users hand is next inserted through said entrance and the bottom of the pocket 82' grasped and pulled outwardly through said entrance to bring the parts to the position such as shown in FIG. 4 of the pocket 34, in which position the slider 64 is at the right-hand side and the opening to the pocket 82' is at the rear similar to the opening in pocket 82 as shown in FIG. 4, facing the garment or dress. With the opening to the pocket 82' in this position, it is merely necessary to gather up or fold the material of the dress 10' including the front panel 40' and as it is being gathered or folded it is stuffed through the opening of the pocket 82' to the bottom thereof until the last bit of dress material is stuffed or packed thereinto. The position of the opening or entrance to pocket 82 and the flexibility of the material of the dress permits this operation. When the parts are in this position, the parts assume the shape and structure of a bag with the inner panel sections 46 and 48 at the front and the material of the dress 10' at the rear as viewed in FIG. 10. The zipper structure of the panel 42' serves as a closure, with the other pull tab 68 74 to the right as viewed in FIG. 10 other pull tab 68, the teeth will be closed thereby sealing the pocket 82' leaving the handle 72 on the outside. The pocket is thus converted into a carrying bag 84' as shown in FIG. 10, with the inner panel 42' and a small portion of the material of the dress 10' on the outside, and by merely turning the bag upside down as shown in FIG. 10, the handle 72 is in position for carrying the bag, with the entire dress except panel 42' and a small portion of the dress on the inside.

It will be understood that the invention might be embodied in various outer garments of men, ladies and children. The garments may be of any size and any kind of flexible material.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and that various changes and modifications may by means of the outermost, and by pulling the slider be made within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent 1. In combination, a garment having a body of flexible material and a pocket unit on the body of the garment adapted to receive and carry the said garment, said pocket including three spaced superimposed rectangular panels received together along their opposite side edges and along their bottom edges defining an inner pocket and an outer pocket, the said garment being provided with a slit therein to form a pocket opening, two of said panels fastened to one of the edges of the slit in the body at the top thereof and the third panel fastened to the other edge of the slit in the body at its top, one of said two panels having an opening thereacross providing an entrance to the inner pocket, reversible sliding fastener means extending across the entrance opening of the inner pocket for controlling the opening and closing of said entrance and adapted to be manipulated from either the inside or outside of the inner pocket, the panels defining the outer pocket being invertible through the slit in the body, the inner pocket being also invertible through its opening and when inverted adapted to receive the material of the garment body through the entrance opening being controlled by the sliding fastener means when the slide has been moved to open the entrance of the inner pocket and to envelop the said garment material.

2. The combination as defined in claim 1, and a handle secured to one of the panels of the inner pocket and extending inwardly into the inner pocket and accessible when the inner pocket has been inverted and by which the pocketed garment may be carried.

3. The combination as defined in claim 1, said reversible sliding fastener means having pull tabs on the opposite sides of the inner pocket, the inverted inner pocket being closed by the use of the pull tab of the sliding fastener means other than the pull tab used to open the inner pocket entrance opening.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,246,871 Cabelinsky Nov. 20, 1917 1,797,208 Weisz Mar. 17, 1931 2,068,474 Long Oct. 27, 1936 2,072,060 Damron Feb. 23, 1937 2,143,931 Aronson Jan. 17, 1939 2,235,812 Greenberg Mar. 25, 1941 2,325,494 Fayer July 27, 1943 2,407,888 Lesser Sept. 17, 1946 

1. IN COMBINATION, A GARMENT HAVING A BODY OF FLEXIBLE MATERIAL AND A POCKET UNIT ON THE BODY OF THE GARMENT ADAPTED TO RECEIVE AND CARRY THE SAID GARMENT, SAID POCKET INCLUDING THREE SPACED SUPERIMPOSED RECTANGULAR PANELS RECEIVED TOGETHER ALONG THEIR OPPOSITE SIDE EDGES AND ALONG THEIR BOTTOM EDGES DEFINING AN INNER POCKET AND AN OUTER POCKET, THE SAID GARMENT BEING PROVIDED WITH A SLIT THEREIN TO FORM A POCKET OPENING, TWO OF SAID PANELS FASTENED TO ONE OF THE EDGES OF THE SLIT IN THE BODY AT THE TOP THEREOF AND THE THIRD PANEL FASTENED TO THE OTHER EDGE OF THE SLIT IN THE BODY AT ITS TOP, ONE OF SAID TWO PANELS HAVING AN OPENING THEREACROSS PROVIDING AN ENTRANCE TO THE INNER POCKET, REVERSIBLE SLIDING FASTENER MEANS EXTENDING ACROSS THE ENTRANCE OPENING OF THE INNER POCKET FOR CONTROLLING THE OPENING AND CLOSING OF SAID ENTRANCE AND ADAPTED TO BE MANIPULATED FROM EITHER THE INSIDE OR OUTSIDE OF THE INNER POCKET, THE PANELS DEFINING THE OUTER POCKET BEING 